Erlend Leonhardsen

Erlend Leonhardsen is a seasoned legal professional with extensive experience in litigation, negotiation, and legal consultancy, currently serving as Legal Counsel at Forsvarsmateriell - Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency since October 2025, focusing on shipbuilding and major projects. Previously, Erlend held the position of Legal Advisor at the EFTA Surveillance Authority, where litigation before the EFTA Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union was a primary responsibility. Erlend's background includes roles as Senior Associate at Advokatfirmaet Schjødt in oil, gas, and offshore construction dispute resolution, as well as a Senior Adviser at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs focusing on EEA/EU law. Academia also features prominently in Erlend's career, with time as a Research Fellow at the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo and educational qualifications, including an LLM from Georgetown Law. Notably, Erlend has contributed to international legal research with stints at Yale Law School and the World Bank, alongside a PhD thesis centered on international dispute settlement.